You could download the form from the web site of IL Dept of Public
Health - Vital Records division - complete the form, send a check, and wait.

- OR, if it's a Cook Co death certificate you're seeking, you could download
the form from the Cook Co Clerk's web site; complete the form, send a check, and
wait even longer!

- OR - I could obtain it for you, for a small upcharge to cover my time
involved.

COMPARISONS:

Access and Fees:

IDPH-VR has death certificates issued anywhere in Illinois - their fee is
$10 for an uncertified genealogical copy of the original medical death
certificate; genealogical copies include the years 1916 through 1985... (I have access to the same genealogical death certificates,
on microfilm, at the IL State Archives, for the years 1916-1947, so it's a waste
of money to pay more than my $5 fee (as of Aug 1, 2006) for 1916-1947 certificates)

Cook Co Clerk's office charges $10 IF you know the certificate number (and
those certificate numbers through 1950 are online in the IL death
index). Cook Co Clerk's Office charges $15.00 if the cert # is not known
(i.e., after 1950). For deaths occurring within the last 25 years, their fees
are higher, and their regulations are more stringent. The death certificates
from Cook Co Clerk's office are exactly the same as those from IDPH-VR.

IDPH-VR currently has an approximate 4-8 week response time, for a
snail-mailed request for death certificate.

Cook Co Clerk's office has an approximate 4 - 24 WEEKS response time, to a request for
death certificate (but they cash your check within the first few days)

MOLLY'S ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION:

I can and will request, as a "walk-in" patron at the IDPH office - ANY Illinois death certificate issued from 1948
through 1985 (from IDPH-VR) for a fee of $17.00 each (discounted if two or more
death certificates ordered at the same time - paid in advance).

To obtain a death certificate issued 1948-1986, I'll need the following
information about the decedent:

First & last name of the deceased

Place of death (county is enough, if known)

Date of death (if known - or estimation of year)

D.O.B. (if known... or estimated year is enough)

Maiden name, if female (and if known)

Date last known to be alive - very helpful, especially if death date unknown!

Last known address - also very helpful when other info is lacking!

NOTE: Due to the expense of these documents, I MUST request payment in advance -
(extremely tight budget). I will complete and submit the
application forms and payment to IDPH as soon as payment (or confirmation) is received,
and SHOULD have the resulting certificates from IDPH, ready to mail you, within
2 to 4 business days.

EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2006, IDPH NO LONGER ALLOWS NEXT-DAY PICKUP OF ANY VITAL
RECORD COPIES - FOR ANYONE. Their office staff was drastically reduced as
of that date, due to state budget cuts. Instead of next-day pickup, they
pledge to mail out the resulting certificates within two business days after
receipt of the order.

Death certificates 1948-1985 -
discounts if multiple-orders at the same time:

AS to the multiple-order discount... if one orders 2 or more death certs
1948-1986 at the same time, my son suggested that I offer a discounted service.

IDPH will still charge their $10 fee for each death cert search 1948-1986, so
that part cannot be discounted.

My fee for obtaining a single death cert is now $7; for the 2nd and
subsequent ones (must be ordered at the same time, and paid in advance), my fee
is $5 - - to cover my time involved (which includes completing the IDPH forms,
submitting & paying, then awaiting IDPH's responses... verifying the
results, and ensuring that the resulting certificates are mailed immediately to
the requestor.

1948-1986 IDPH-VR death certificate fees
1 death cert $ 17 ($10 for IDPH; +$7 for my service)
2 death certs $ 32 ($20 to IDPH; + $7 for the first cert +$5 for the 2nd
cert)
3 death certs $ 47 ($30 to IDPH; +$7 for first cert, +$5 for
each additional cert)
4 death certs $ 62 ($40 to IDPH; +$7 for first cert, +$5 for
each additional cert)
5 death certs $ 77 ($50 to IDPH; +$7 for first cert, +$5 for
each additional cert)
6 death certs $ 92 ($60 to IDPH; +$7 for first cert, +$5 for
each additional cert)
and so on...